Ted was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (1930) and raised in Avon Park, Florida where he completed high school and became widely known as a promising young flutist and conductor. At 11 years of age, Ted made a formal faith commitment and joined a Presbyterian Church. "I’d grown up with an awareness of Christ in my life, so it really wasn’t that much of a transformation. At home there was a keen awareness of the importance of the Bible. Also, a former missionary to China became dear to our family. We called her Aunt Mabel and she spent her last years with us. She was a deeply spiritual person with a keen sense of God’s work in the world. It was through her influence that I learned to look beyond the typical Americans me-us-and-ours viewpoint."

In 1948, Ted moved to Wheaton, Illinois to begin a degree in music education at Wheaton College. Here he met another flutist, Margaret Hockett from Evanston. Ted graduated with a bachelors degree in music education in 1951, and in June he and Margaret were married.

Ted became band director at Wheaton College Academy while he was a student at Wheaton College. After he graduated, he continued as band director and music teacher (1950-1952), but with an eagerness to go overseas. Ted and Margaret prepared to teach in a Bible school in France, but God had other plans. "Sometimes God leads us into experiences to let us discover how willing we are to follow him. The key to an understanding of God’s will for our lives is committed planning followed by plenty of space for God to surprise us!"

Shortly after they were married, Ted and Margaret drove to Florida where Ted would begin a masters degree in education. They arrived in a driving rain, with Ted almost too late for registration. But a "can-do" registrar cleared the way providing a map of the campus, directing him where to go, and then calling ahead. Ted has never forgotten this act of service to a harried, soaked beginning graduate student; and for all of his own career he has been a "can-do" administrator who creates organizational climates where people are served rather than treated as commodities. He received the Master of Education degree in 1954 (with an emphasis in music teacher education) and the Doctor of Education degree in 1956 (with an emphasis in educational research and curriculum for professional development).

During this time Ted was active in church leadership (Director of Christian Education, 1954-1956, Gainesville, Florida), music education (Choral director and instrumental teacher at the University of Miami, Florida Summer Music Festival, 1951-54), and teacher development (Instructor and Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, Gainesville, 1953-1956; his major responsibility the development of the regional school-based teacher education centers in Duval and Pinellas Counties).

The mission field was now clearly not what the Lord had in mind for Ted and Margaret. He left the University of Florida for Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan and, in time, became Professor of Education and Curriculum Research (1956-1986). His major assignments during his 30 years at MSU include: Development of the school-based teacher education center, Pontiac, and the continuing education center for metropolitan Detroit 1956-1961; Coordinator for doctoral program development, College of Education; Curriculum Coordinator, College of Education, 1961-1963; Associate Director for Research, Instructional Materials Center for Handicapped Children and Youth, U.S. Office of Education 1965-1972; Director, Learning Systems Institute, 1963-1971; Director, Human Learning Research Institute, 1966-1971; Director, Values Development Education Program, (Lilly Endowment), 1973-1976; Research Specialist in Ethnographic Studies, Institute for International Studies in Education; Coordinator, Nonformal Education in Indonesia and Brazil (research and development project), 1974-1978; Chairman of the University Advisory Council 1976-1978; and Chairman of the Committee on Mission of the College of Education, 1977-1978.

At the same time, he served in two churches as Minister of Music (1957-1961, Detroit, Michigan; 1962-1970, Lansing, Michigan); and as president and chairman of the board of the Pontiac Symphony Orchestra Association, Pontiac, Michigan (1959-1961).

Ted is often asked how the move to TEDS came about. "Over the years, many Christian educational institutions asked us to consider joining them, especially in an administrative capacity. We felt that God had called us to a special kind of work at Michigan State. As we thought about the option of retirement after 30 years at Michigan State, we asked God to show us whether to stay on or accept some other position. At MSU, I was involved in non-institutional reforms in human development, not just training teachers for schools and narrowly church-based programs. Trinity was open to this broader definition of education." In the fall of 1985, Ted started his final year at Michigan State, and began halftime at Trinity. Soon after, he was appointed Professor of Christian Education and Mission, Dean of International Studies, Mission, and Education, and named Aldeen Professor of Missions, Education, and International Studies. He retired officially in 1994, but continued an active teaching role until 1999. Currently, Ted is consultant to the Ph.D. programs in Educational Studies and Intercultural Studies.

His major assignments while at TEDS included: Development of Research Doctorates in Education and Intercultural Studies; Director of Institutional Study for the year 2000. One of his dreams for Trinity was to help faculty and students gain a larger view of the church in the world, and to stimulate partnerships internationally. His words then are relevant today:

If seminary faculty and pastors are aloof from the worldwide mission of the church, North American churches are going to lack the appropriate world consciousness. . . .

The forward-looking Christian education of the future must be concerned about the international development of the church. ‘World Christian’ must become more than a catchy slogan. (1987. Developing a global view of ministry. In Moody Monthly April: 23-25)

Not surprisingly, Ted’s expertise and wisdom has been sought after by numerous organizations for whom he has served as board member and/or consultant. The list of conference, seminar and workshop engagements around the world seems endless and Ted is still involved as a consultant, conference and seminar leader, commencement speaker, and workshop clinician.

Curriculum Research Committee, Michigan Educational Research Council of the Michigan Department of Education,1965-1967.  International Advisory Committee on World Neighbors, 1966-1969.
Michigan Council on Alcohol Problems, 1970-1974.
Summer Institute of International Studies, Wheaton College, 1972-1978.
DayStar Communications Research Institute, Advisory Board, Nairobi, Kenya 1972-1976.
American Society of Missiology, 1974-1976.
Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education, 1976-1978.
Editorial Advisory Board, Family Life Today, 1980-1984
Society for Advancement of Global Education, Advisory Board, 1981-1983.
Council on International Education of the Midwest Universities Consortium on International Activities, 1982-1985.
International Conference on Missionary Kids, founding member, Manila, 1985; Quito 1987; and Nairobi, 1989.
Christian Ministries Management Association, 1989-1995.
American Association of Bible Colleges, board of directors and member-at-large, 1989-1997.
Medical Assistance Program (Map-International, Inc.) Advisory Board, 1977-1984.
Co-founder: Associates of Urbanus (publishers of instructional materials and books for missionary preparation).
Co-founder and first editor: Faculty Dialogue (a journal for teachers and administrators in Christian Higher Education).

During his extensive international service as a consultant and specialist on education and human resource development, Ted has been engaged in research, consultation, and educational planning in over 60 countries. He has consulted in many areas of the world for government and non-governmental organizations and for denominational and para-church agencies. The organizations he has served include: U.S. congressional committees; The Billy Graham Center; Wycliffe Summer Institute of Linguistics; the Peace Corps; the Committee to Assist Ministry Education Overseas (CAMEO, Joint Standing Committee of the Independent Foreign Mission Associations and the Evangelical Foreign Mission Associations); the European Language and Cultural Centers (Eurocentres), Zurich, Switzerland (with field work in England, France, and Switzerland); Dutweiler Foundation (Migros Volkschulen and Eurocentres), Zurich, Switzerland; Nuffield Foundation, London; Ford Foundation, New York; Dag Hammarsköld Foundation; UNESCO; UNICEF; and UNDP, (United Nations), New York and Paris; U.S. Agency for International Development; U.S. Office of Education, various universities, colleges, state and local departments of education; American Foundation for the Blind; Library of Congress; Chairman of Council on the Family, National Association of Evangelicals; National Council of Churches of Christ; Overseas Ministry’s Study Center; Foreign Mission Board and Home Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention; Institute for Christian Leadership, Portland, Oregon; Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations; World Vision International (fieldwork in 9 nations); World Concern; Maryknoll Sisters; the Society of Jesus, and other Catholic orders; advisor to the U. S. Office of Education in respect to the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouse for Handicapped Children, and to the Educational Professions Development Section of USOE; Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Seoul, Korea; consultant and training coordinator (community development, non-formal education, and national planning) in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Indonesia, Israel, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Germany, and other nations; American Institute of Holy Land Studies, Israel; Asia Society; U.S., Malaysia and Korea; Assembly of God, Springfield and Brussels; Christian Church of the U.S.; Control Data Corp., Minnesota; Corps of Chaplains, USN, D.C.; Office of Children, Youth and Families, DHHS, DC; Moody Bible Institute (School of Aviation); SAGE, CA; Rodale Press; Quest, Inc.; Thomas Nelson, TN; Westinghouse Learning Systems, MD; White House Conference on Families, DC, LA, MN; WORD, TX; Youth for Christ, IL Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship; The Navigators; Slavic Gospel Mission; Association of Theological Schools; Youth with a Mission; Ministry Training International, and other denominational and specialized mission organizations.

Chairman, Council on Education, Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA), 1972-1974.
Missionary Internship, Inc., Farmington, Michigan, 1972-1985.
Research Fellow, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1972-1985.
Special Assistant for International Conference Design, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (Lausanne 1974; Amsterdam 1983) and publication 
       of instructional materials based on Lausanne and ICOWE.
Consultant and Conference Planner, Family Concern, Inc., 1976-1978.
Advisory Council, MUCIA Agricultural Education Project in Nepal 1977-1979.
Consulting Coordinator for Annual Training Convocations, Joint Committee on Personnel,
International Foreign Mission Societies and Evangelical Foreign Mission Societies, 1973-1980.
Consultant on Moral Values and Family, the White House and the U. S. Congress, 1984-1987
Workshop leader, Overseas Ministry’s Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, 1980 to the present.
Conference speaker and consultant for Christian Camping International
Biblical Institute for Christian Leadership (BILD), now Church-Based Theological Education (C-BTE), Ames, Iowa.
American Association of Bible Colleges, Board member and consultant.
Christian Camping International, Board member and consultant.
Institute for Christian Leadership, Portland, Oregon
Service with more than 20 international mission societies in U.S. and overseas.

Staley Foundation lecturer for more than twenty colleges and seminaries, and guest lecturer at more than 40 other seminaries, colleges and universities, 1972 to the present; Faculty retreats for more than 10 seminaries and colleges.

Conference planner and speaker, Urbana 1970; Conference Planner and Speaker, International Congress on World Evangelism, Lausanne, 1974; Asbury Theological Seminary, Conferences on Moral Education, 1974-1979; Azusa Pacific College, World Awareness Conference, CA; Baptist General Conference, Christian Education Workshop, Schroon Lake, New York; Christian Camping International, Biennial conferences; Conference of International Education and Planning Association, South Carolina; First and Second Evangelical Conferences on the Future, Kansas City and Atlanta; Forest Home Intercollegiate Conference, California; Fuller Theological Seminary, Christian Education Conference; MAP-International, four conferences and eight years of consultancy, Illinois; National Association of Professors and Researchers in Christian Education, Anaheim; National Association of Professors of Christian Education, California; Southern Baptist Convention, Conference on the Future of Missions, Richmond, Virginia; Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Conference on Third World Leadership. Illinois; Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Christian Education Conference; Winnipeg Joint Conference on Christian Camping, Manitoba, Canada.

Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations, Kansas; Association of Urban Missions, New Jersey; Christian Church of the U.S., Kansas City; The Firs, Workshop on Christian Education, Washington; Indiana Christian Management Association; International Christian Leadership, Gospel Light; Missionary Internship, Michigan; Mississippi Baptist Convention; National Religious Broadcasters, Washington, D.C.; New York State Association of Evangelicals; Ohio Business Teachers Association; Overseas Ministries Study Center, Annual workshops, 1979 to the present, New Haven; Religious Education Association, Anaheim Scripture Press Ministries, Illinois; U.S. Center for World Evangelization, California Urbana ‘70; ‘73; ‘76; Wesleyan Publication Board Workshop on Moral Education, Indiana

Perhaps the most appreciated of the recognitions that Ted has received for his service are the various expressions of gratitude and appreciation from his friends, students, and professional colleagues. However, his work has been recognized formally by a number of organizations.

Dag Hammarskjöld Citation for Service in Developing Nations, Uppsala, Sweden, 1975.
Faculty and Alumni Award for Service, College of Education, Michigan State University, 1986.
Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University, 1986.
Elected to G. W. Aldeen Chair of International Studies, Mission, and Education, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1986.
Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Roberts Wesleyan University, Rochester, New York, 1987.
Senior Scholar in Residence, Overseas Ministries Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, 1994.
Establishment of The Ted W. Ward Consultation on Education and Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1995.
Lifetime Service Award, North American Association of Professors of Christian Education, 1996.
Alumni Award for Service to Society (with Margaret H. Ward), Wheaton College, Illinois, 1997.
Professor Emeritus, Trinity International University, 1999.
First recipient of the Award for Service to Christian Higher Education, Warner Pacific College, 2000.

Founding Editor: Faculty Dialogue, Institute for Christian Leadership

Over 125 journal and encyclopedia articles; 50 popular articles; 20 major monographs; editing of two yearbooks of professional associations; 9 other books--most widely known:

Living Overseas: A Book of Preparation, Macmillan, 1984.

Values Begin at Home, Scripture Press, 1979, l989.

Spanning a period of more than fifty years, Ted Ward has served the field of professional education as teacher, administrator, innovator and researcher, educator of leaders, and consultant to institutions and governmental ministries of education. During the middle years of his career he specialized in educational planning and leadership development for many of the emerging nations. These contributions were recognized in the Dag Hammarskjöld Citation for Service in Developing Nations, Uppsala, Sweden 1975. Well over a hundred of his doctoral students today hold service and leadership positions in many nations.

He has published widely and his writings have contributed extensively to formal and nonformal education. His Living Overseas (Macmillan) has been used for over fifteen years as a training manual and handbook for missionaries, intercultural educators and consultants as well the general population of Americans in overseas assignments.

Since retiring from service in the International Institute at Michigan State University, and from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Ted has developed an extensive involvement in pastoral development within the church. He continues his dedication to the innovation of alternative models of educational experience, especially the current emphasis on church-based theological education. Ted’s has managed across his career to integrate and connect the areas of his professional service: education, mission, community development, and the various ministries of the church. He thinks in terms of "international studies in education" and "the international development of the church." For his students and colleagues, he has modeled the importance of thinking and acting strategically, integratively, and holistically. ("To know and not to act is not to know.") His life and career have been grounded in a passion for service and justice and the development of the person.

In 1997, Ted Ward and his wife Margaret were honored by Wheaton College as Alumni of the Year, with special recognition of their extensive service to society across the world.

For those of us who accomplish one or two or even three major tasks in a lifetime, it is tiring to realize that this outline is incomplete. More could be written of the remarkable career of this remarkable man–a career that continues even in retirement and that is reflected in the lives of hundreds of people who consider him one of their most significant and demanding teachers, a valued and respected colleague, and a good friend.